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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1999)
A&E American Beauty stuns with symbolism, strong acting ______________________ 9_ TL ie CI ac I camas P rint ANGIE DASCHEL A&E Editor Funny and heartbreaking, tragic and beautiful, American Beauty is the amazingly- told story of a modern family fall ing apart at the seams. Every thing appears normal on the outside, but all is not well when one takes a closer look into the American suburbs. Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects) plays Lester, a self described loser who suddenly develops an itch to burst out of his old routine, to reinvent himself. Some may call this a mid-life crisis, but Spacey brings new meaning to the term. Surrounded by a sarcastic wife with a need for perfection (Annette Bening), and a spoiled, self-righteous brat of a daughter (Thora Birch), there is no question why Lester needs to find new meaning in his life. The catalyst for this change in Lester is his lust for his daughter’s friend, a stuck-up, arrogant blonde who knows that every man wants her- in cluding Lester, who suddenly embarks on a self-improvement routine of working out, drink ing health shakes and, basi cally, breaking out of his mold. He begins to actually live again. On the other hand, Lester’s wife Carolyn is beginning to re Sports Co-Editor I’ll tell ye’ about an author like no other. Jude Deveraux will bring tears to ye’ eyes and warm ye’ heart. Deveraux novels involve many acts o’ kindness and love. The author brings us an ornery type o’ villain who will make you hate the bloody an tagonist to the very depths of ye’ soul. Deveraux forms a bond with her readers, using history and romance to tell her stories, which all revolve around the Montgomery Clan, in Scotland, beginning the late 1700’s, and con tinuing through the centuries. This prolific writer begins suc- ceeding novels with characters., from the last, but each of her novels is a different story of the Montgom ery Clansmen and their families. Deveraux uses ac tual history to en rich her plots and inform her tmk- grounds. Some of my fa Bini Fall play: House of Blue Leaves HEIDI SAUSSER ------------------------------------------ The House of Blue Leaves, a dark comedy written by Jon Guare, will be presented as the fall play at Clacka- mas. Set in New York, The House of Blue Leaves is about the Pope’s first visit to Queens. The play wil I be presented in the McLoughlin Hall theater at 8 p.m Nov. 1 l-13and 18-20;andat2:30p.m.Nov. 14 and 21. Admission is $3 for students, $6 for the general public, and free to senior citizens with reservations. The Stage Managers/Assistant Di- rectors are Tyler Currey and Jamie Anderson. Currey is also an acting member, along with Jayson Shanafelt, Amanda Jensen, Michaela Foeller, Erin Adkisson, Mark Jwayad, Nicole Beeler, Megan Hunt, Emily Falkenstein, Eric Moler and John Antcliffe. Amber Dodgson is in charge of the crew. David Smith-English, director of the play, and all the actors and ac- tresses, strongly encourage people ofall agesto attend The House of Blue Leaves. CiET up . G et O ut and ... Do S omething ! Passing Through a concert of contemporary dance by Wendy Hambridge alize her life is not exactly as she planned it, either. As a real-es tate agent, mother and wife, she has failed; the only thing she has kept up is her rose garden. Flawless red roses are used in almost every scene, on a table, outside, even on clothing. This universal symbol of love, pas sion and desire is used so well that roses become more than just a prop; they are interwoven perfectly with the actors and their emotions. Rich in symbolism and gor geously- arranged scenes, American Beauty is truly a Readers revel in romance SALENA DELACRUZ WedNEsdAy, OcTobER 6, 1999 vorite Jude Deveraux titles are “The Dutchess”, “The Awak ening,” “The Velvet Promise," “The Velvet Song" and "The Blessing.” Deveraux awakens the roman tic in us all. She brings you into her writing while allowing you to laugh at the way she tells the story. I for one was amazed at the way she wrote the conver sations the characters had us ing the Scottish accent in her writing. Jude Deveraux is an author readers can get to know and love. Her telling of the story is a comfort we romantics can have when those long, lonely nights come a callin'. So, curl up with a good his torical romance novel by Jude Deveraux-read the love lost and found, and smile, cry and rage with her characters. At the end, I’m betting you’ll begin to be lieve - ■ (with Virgil and me) that, indeed, “Love; Con quers All.” masterpiece, and the master is Spacey. His character goes from the depths of boredom and despair to true happiness, and Spacey delivers all this with ease and believability. Even though Bening is truly awe some in her portrayal of a wife caught up in her need for suc cess and status, this movie be longs to Spacey. Known for his incredible acting ability, Spacey may be the only actor who could have pulled off such a wonderful, touching, darkly- comic movie as American Beauty. Conduit, 918 SW Yamhill Suite 401 Portland, Oregon Oct. 15-17,22-24 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sunday Reservations and info: 249-0246 Taps: The Civil War in Word and Song a historical musical by William and Carla Coleman End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 1726 Washington St Oct. 8-10,15-17 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Sunday Reservations and info: 557-8542 ext 104 Blood Wedding Spanish tragedy of poetry and music Miracle Theater, 425 SE 6th Ave., Portland, Oregon Sept. 24-Oct. 23 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday Reservations and info: 236-7253
